Ferchar is an Old Irish masculine name that serves as the precursor to the later Scottish Gaelic form Fearchar. It derives from two elements: fer meaning "man" and carae meaning "friend," thus the overall sense is "man-friend" or "dear one." The name appears in early medieval records of the kingdom of Dál Riata, which spanned parts of modern-day Scotland and Ireland. Under the variant spelling Ferchar, it was borne by several early kings of Dál Riata during the 7th century. Prominent bearers include Ferchar I (also known as Ferchar Fota, i.e., "the long"), who ruled c. 658–665, and his descendant Ferchar II, who flourished around the 7th–8th centuries. These historical figures contributed to the enduring use of the name in Gaelic culture. The name evolved in Scotland into Farquhar through anglicization, while Fearchar remains the direct Scottish Gaelic continuation. Despite being obsolete as a given name, Ferchar is recognized as a foundational component of several modern surnames and given names in Scottish and Irish contexts. Meaning: "man-friend" (from fer "man" + carae "friend")Origin: Old Irish (Goidelic)Notable bearers: Ferchar I and II, early kings of Dál RiataRelated forms: Fearchar (Scottish Gaelic), Farquhar (Scottish anglicization)Usage region: Historic Dál Riata (Scotland, Ireland)Type: Masculine given name